Prime-Time Ratings:
Friday 3/14/08

The following results are based on the fast affiliate ratings (Live Plus Same Day data)

-Total Viewers:
CBS: 7.53 million, NBC: 6.19, ABC: 4.81, Fox: 4.47. CW: 4.32

-Adults 18-49:
CBS: 1.9 rating/6 share, NBC: 1.7/ 6, Fox: 1.5/ 5, ABC and CW: 1.4/ 5 each

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Note: Any prior rating results are based on the final nationals. Since the level of DVR penetration has increased from 9 percent in early 2006-07 to approximately 20 percent at present, the overall results may be negatively impacted.

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-Friday’s Winners:
The Price is Right (CBS), House R (Fox)

-Friday’s Losers (excluding repeats):
Amnesia (NBC), The Return of Jezebel James (Fox), 20/20 (ABC)

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-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS led this typically uneventful Friday, with a first-place finish in households, total viewers and adults 18-49. But just 7.53 million viewers and a 1.9 rating/6 share among adults 18-49 for the Eye net means that Friday remains a continued sore spot.

In series-premiere news, the cancellation clock is now officially ticking on the two-episode launch of Fox sitcom The Return of Jezebel James. Take a look:

The Return of Jezebel James (Fox)
8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 3.17 million (#5), A18-49: 1.0 rating/4 share (#4t) – Premiere
8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 3.25 million (#5), A18-49: 1.0/ 4 (#4t)

Considering Fox already slashed the episode order from 13 to 7, don’t get too used to The Return of Jezebel James. In the battle of the 8-9 p.m. game shows, CBS’ The Price is Right had a considerable advantage over NBC’s waiting-to-be axed Amnesia.

Friday 8 p.m.
The Price is Right (CBS)
Viewers: 8.67 million (#1), A18-49: 2.0/ 7 (#1)

Amnesia (NBC)
Viewers: 4.81 million (#3), A18-49: 1.4/ 5 (#2)

You have to wonder at this point if CBS will order more episodes of The Price Is Right and leave it in the Friday anchor position. Personally, I think it should.

Also airing in the 8 p.m. hour was the first half of the CW’s soon-to-exit Friday Night Smackdown! (Viewers: #4, 4.01 million; A18-49: #3, 1.3/ 5) and a repeat of Grey’s Anatomy on ABC (Viewers: #5, 3.79 million; A18-49: #4t, 1.0/ 5). Overall, Friday Night Smackdown! averaged a consistent 4.32 million viewers and a 1.4/ 5 among adults 18-49 from 8-10 p.m. I can just see those smiling faces at upcoming home MyNetworkTV next season.

At 9 p.m., a repeat of CBS’ Ghost Whisperer and a repeat of Fox’s House shared leadership as follows:

Friday 9 p.m.
Ghost Whisperer R (CBS)
Viewers: 6.82 million (#1), A18-49: 1.8/ 6 (#2)

House R (Fox)
Viewers: 5.74 million (#3), A18-49: 1.9/ 6 (#1)

Worth noting for the House encore was growth out of the 8:30 p.m. portion of The Return of Jezebel James of 2.49 million viewers and 90 percent in the demo.

Rounding off the 9 p.m. hour were newsmagazines Dateline on NBC (Viewers: #2, 6.56 million; A18-49: #3, 1.7/ 5) and 20/20 on ABC (Viewers: #4, 4.73 million; A18-49: #5, 1.3/ 4), which was the first half of a two-hour edition of both, and the second hour of the CW’s Friday Night Smackdown! (Viewers: #5, 4.63 million; A18-49: #4, 1.5/ 5).

The second half of NBC’s Dateline led the 10 p.m. hour, with 7.20 million viewers and a 2.0/ 6 among adults 18-49. Overall, that put Dateline at a so-so 6.88 million viewers and a 1.9/ 6 in the demo from 9-11 p.m. Capping off the time period was a repeat of CBS’ Numb3rs (Viewers: #2, 7.10 million; A18-49: #3, 1.8/ 6) and the second half of 20/20 on ABC (Viewers: #3, 5.89 million; A18-49: #2, 1.9/ 6). Overall, 20/20 averaged a very modest 5.31 million viewers and a 1.6/ 5 in the demo from 9-11 p.m.

Source: Nielsen Media Research data (R = repeat)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Marc Berman,

im pretty sure just about everybody saw that coming 4 jezebel james. plus next week its gonna be behind reruns of til death, so yea im pretty sure the cancellation clock is getting louder and louder right about now

JJ is a disaster much bigger than expected. GG were doing better than that last season (without Palladino) on CW. But that's what happens when you're a little bit to greedy

Robert, your post beat me to it! I saw JJ last night and it was just awful! They've got this asinine laugh track running at the most ridiculous moments, and the writing is just horribly bad--it's hard to believe JJ is from the same people who created GG, but I can't say I'm sorry to see the show tank. After what the Palladinos did to GG at the end, they deserve it.

Marc, Travis, or anyone... would you have the ratings for The Wire finale last Sunday?

quote:

Originally posted by spunky:
Robert, your post beat me to it! I saw JJ last night and it was just awful! They've got this asinine laugh track running at the most ridiculous moments, and the writing is just horribly bad--it's hard to believe JJ is from the same people who created GG, but I can't say I'm sorry to see the show tank. After what the Palladinos did to GG at the end, they deserve it.

And i know someone else that worked on GG that will have the same faith

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Berman:
Prime-Time Ratings:
Friday 3/14/08
In series-premiere news, the cancellation clock is now officially ticking on the two-episode launch of Fox sitcom The Return of Jezebel James. Take a look:

The Return of Jezebel James (Fox)
8:00 p.m. – Viewers: 3.17 million (#5), A18-49: 1.0 rating/4 share (#4t) – Premiere
8:30 p.m. – Viewers: 3.25 million (#5), A18-49: 1.0/ 4 (#4t)

Although it opened to rather paltry numbers (I had hoped for at least Gilmore Girls-level opening numbers), I enjoyed both Jezebel James episodes last night, and I think FOX may have found an ideal sitcom pairing for the similarly young-adultish Unhitched.

But those numbers need to grow quite a bit in the coming weeks for FOX to stand behind this sitcom. Perhaps leading out of 'Til Death next week might help new viewers find this witty little comedy.

quote:

Originally posted by Zitrone:
Marc, Travis, or anyone... would you have the ratings for The Wire finale last Sunday?

Final ratings report on HBO's 'The Wire:
(By David Zurawik, Baltimore Sun Television Critic, in his blog “Critical Mass”)

The premiere of Sunday night’s series finale of HBO’s The Wire was seen by 1.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

That represents about 4 percent of homes that subscribe to HBO — or less than 1 percent of the American TV audience.

By comparison, the June 10 finale of HBO’s crime drama The Sopranos drew 11.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

The cable channel’s surfer series John From Cincinnati was seen by 1.2 million viewers on Aug. 12 — the last night it aired before being canceled at the end of its first season.

HBO did not offer viewers the chance to see the finale of The Wire in advance of Sunday’s premiere via On Demand as it had done with the previous nine episodes this season. So, the Sunday night audience is the most representative for any episode that had been measured this season by Nielsen.

According to HBO, another 700,000 viewers watched an 11 p.m. replay of the finale making for a cumulative audience of 1.8 million viewers Sunday.

The final episode of Season 4, which was set in Baltimore city schools, was seen by 1.9 million viewers, according to a spokesman for the cable channel. It aired only once, on Dec. 10, 2006.

With the option of On Demand viewing, the series had been averaging about 1 million viewers a week this season for its Sunday night premieres on HBO. Subscribers can still see the finale On Demand.

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/critics/b...eport_on_hbos_t.html

Thanks Fred!

Not bad, not bad for The Wire. Only 1% of American TV audience saw the finale of the best American TV show ever; that sounds about right.

I would have thought Dumont would be all over this news:
"Was a little too busy yesterday to get around to the double shot of Rob Thomas-related news: the CW has hired him to write a "Beverly Hills, 90210" spin-off/remake/sequel, while ABC finally gave the go-ahead for him to make a pilot for the long-discussed (around here, anyway) "Cupid" remake."
http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/03/remakin-rob-thomas.html

(and yes I couldn't care less about Friday's ratings and another suspiciously delayed FOX series failing)

quote:

Originally posted by Zitrone:
I would have thought Dumont would be all over this news:
"Was a little too busy yesterday to get around to the double shot of Rob Thomas-related news: the CW has hired him to write a "Beverly Hills, 90210" spin-off/remake/sequel, while ABC finally gave the go-ahead for him to make a pilot for the long-discussed (around here, anyway) "Cupid" remake."
http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2008/03/remakin-rob-thomas.html

I always seem to be off-line on big news days, and so today I am playing catch-up.

It is indeed heartening to see Mr. Thomas being tug-of-warred by two competing networks, as he is one of the hottest, most sought after and creative producers around.

Furthermore, he still has a slim shot at a "Big Shots" renewal (though hopes are slim on that one), as well as potential pick-ups of his speculative caterer sitcom pilot and his carryforward Warner Television "Veronica Mars: FBI" pilot.

With a few pick-ups for this upcoming season, Mr. Thomas could assume the exalted status that creator-producers Mr. David Kelly and Mr. Spelling once had, with series sprinkled across several networks.

Is there a betting pool of whether or not FOX will air another episode of Jezebel James? It did worse than Quarterlife on NBC. My guess is that it won't air again. CW with wrestling did better than it. It's a rare accomplishment for the network.

What would The CW replace "WWE Friday Night SmackDown!," repeats? CW repeats won't do well on Fridays...Dawn Ostroff, you have enough time to make a series for Friday nights, and make it faster before MNT overtakes The CW!

And if Dawn is thinking of placing "Beverly Hills 90210" on Fridays, it won't go right for The CW.

- "Friday nights will never be the same again for The CW Network (until The CW succeeds it would be better)."

Honestly, can you please change your name, it has gone past cute and quirky and is just now plain annoying. If you want to prop up your favorite shows, use you signature. Because right now, I waste a half second of my life actually reading your name when I don't need to.

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Bound:
Honestly, can you please change your name, it has gone past cute and quirky and is just now plain annoying. If you want to prop up your favorite shows, use you signature. Because right now, I waste a half second of my life actually reading your name when I don't need to.

WelcomeToK-VilleYourMamaDon'tDanceUnderc's name?

quote:

Furthermore, he still has a slim shot at a "Big Shots" renewal (though hopes are slim on that one)

Love the enthusiasm, dumont, but Big Shots is quite thoroughly dead, the sets stricken, etc etc etc.